Apparatus for atomization.



PATENTBD JUNE 11, 1907.

W. L. ROOT.

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZATION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1900.

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No. 856,301. I j PATENTED JUNE 11. 1907.

w. L. ROOT.

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZ-ATION.

APPLIOATIONIILED umzz. 1900.

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PATENTED JUNE 1 l,' 190'7.

W. L. ROOT. APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZATION'.

KPPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 22. 1900.

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v rm: mamas PETERS cni, msnmnmu, 0 c4 WILBER L. ROOT, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR ATOIVIIZATIONi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed January 22, 1900. Serial No. 2,300.

To (tZZ whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, l/VILBER L. ROOT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Atomization, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates, in general, to improvements in medical apparatus for coarse atomization and also for fine atomization, or what is commercially known as a combined or multiple nebulizer.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

The main objects of this invention are,- First:To provide an improved apparatus in which is combined in a small and compact form a durable, simple and complete device which can be used in direct connection with a supply of compressed air for all practical uses of coarse and fine atomization (as for instance, in sprays, douches, Vaporizers and inhalers generally). Secondly :To provide convertible air connections, so that the apparatus can be used in the different positions it is expected to occupy, when in actual and practical use by physicians. Thirdly:-To provide an air filter chamber, to arrest the moisture and the many impurities present in compressed air, which interfere with the perfect operation of the valves and spray tubes, and deteriorate the medicine. Fourth2-To provide in the apparatus an automatic air regulator, so that the air which enters the atomizing tubes shall enter at the desired pressure for which it has been set regardless of the varying higher pressure from the source of supply. Fifth :To provide constructions, in which all of the parts are accessible and separable, also in which the passages for the conduction of liquid are perfectly straight, thus enabling them to be easily cleaned and kept in order, although the liquids employed may be any and all balsamic solutions, heavy Oils, and the like. Sixthly:To provide devices adapted for the ditlerent methods of treatment, viz: for using coarse atomization for cleansing, medicating and for using the fine atomization by inhalation, dilation, resistance in exhalation, and vibrating massage effect. Seventh: To provide an improved combined atomizer having two or more medicines, arranged so that any one of these medicines can be used separately or that one or more can be quickly and conveniently mixed or diluted with one or more of the others, in the desired proportions. Eighth:To provide air tight stop cocks over each bottle so as to prevent the evaporation of the medicines when not in use, to prevent back pressure of nebula vapor into the bottles of medicine not needed, when one or more of the other bottles-ofmedicine are in use. Ninthly:To furnish a provision for blowing out of the tubes all of the nebula vapor remaining in the tubes after air has been shut off from the spray tubes. Tenthly:To provide an attachment, of a vibrating valve, that can be easily held in the hand close to the patients face, where it is convenient and safe to'use effectively with the thumb or electric battery sounding attachment.

Other subordinate objects attained by my invention will be apparent in the detailed description of my apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings making a part of this application, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corres onding parts,Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front e evation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side or end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged (actual size) sectional View taken vertically through the central part of the apparatus in the plane of the dotted line 3, 3, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the main casing of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken transversely through the main casing, in the plane of the dotted line 5, 5, of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken vertically through the upper part of one of the bottles and its air and vapor connections, in the plane of the dotted line 6, 6, of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the controlling valve in another position. similar to Figs. 6 and 7, but showing still another position of the valve. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is an enlarged sectional view taken axially through the lower end of one of the atomizing tubes, the valve being shown in eleva tion. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken transversely through the atomizing tube in the plane of the line 12, 12, of Fig. 11, that face of the section being shown which faces upward in Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the construction of the base plate on which the apparatus is held. Fig. 12'is a sectional view showing a modified arrange- Fig. 8 1s a view IIO ment of the base plate for supporting the apparatus in position on wall or vertical support. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the indexes of the control ling valve.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

The apparatus is suitably supported. In all preferred modes of support, the bottom of the bottles are kept out of contact with everything except the surrounding air. The

preferred means of support will be hereinaf device, I provide an air pressure gage C of any well known form. In OOIIIIQOUOH. with this gage, I providea construction whereby I can regulate the pressure of incoming air and deliver this air at a given pressure to the rest of the apparatus. In a suitable portion of the shell of the chamber A, I make an aperture C and in the latter I locate a valve C I connect the latter by a shank to a diaphragm C the latter being in contact with a spring C The dia hragm is located on bearing C and held own by a gasket C in turn secured by a sleeve C screwed into the extension of the chamber A as shown. Into this sleeve is screwed a nut C, whose interior receives the upper portion of the spring C The pressure of spring C upon the diaphragm is regulated by the vertical adjustment of the nut C. Through the nut C is a passage 0 for keeping the air within the nut and space above the diaphragm at the same pressure as the outer atmosphere. The conduit C from aperture or valve seat C reaches the dia hragm C and also the pressure gage C, and then extends so as to connect substantially as shown with the rest of the apparatus. In consequence, I; am enabled in connection with the reading of the gage to regulate the degree of air pressure at which the diaphragm C shall operate to close the valve C The mode in which these parts operate is as follows. The spring C will, when no pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, keep the diaphragm depressed and the valve depressed and open. I admit air under pressure to the chamber A, and this passes through the open valve and presses against the diaphragm and the pressure gage. I now adjust the nutso that the pressure of air against the diaphragm C at a time when the pressure gage indicates the pressure desired. Thereafter whenever the pressure of air in the conduit C exceeds in any degree the desired pressure, this pressure will press hard enough upon the dia phragm C to overcome the pressure of the spring C and raise this diaphragm C, and seat the valve C thus gradually closing the latter and reducing the admission of air under pressure until the pressure of air in the conduit C and in the remainder of the apparatus above the stop cock has diminished to the amount at which the diaphragm is set for opening the valve. The spring will automatically allow the valve C to open and admit more air under pressure to the amount which by this adjustment the operator desires to use, and is indicated or recorded by the pressure gage. As the compressed air passes through the chamber A and the absorbent materials mentioned therein, it is purified and enters the remainder of the appara tus in a condition suitable for use in connection with the nasal passages, middle ear or the respiratory organs. This device enables the operator to reduce the pressure of the air escaping to any desired pressure and consequently the compressed air in a cylinder will last nearly twice as long; and by its use there is no Waste of air and energy.

I locate in chamber A and in the space near the valve a perforated guard partition A The function of this partition is to prevent any of the absorbent material in chamber Afrom reaching and clogging the valve C The perforations allow the air passing through the chamber to freely pass to the valve C The conduit C from the source of compressed air by way of the chamber A duly connects through passage D D with a discharge orifice D, and the passage of air to the latter is controlled by a suitable valve D preferably as shown, a conical valve, advanced and retracted by a screw thread of it, engaging a thread in the adjacent portion of chamber A, and rotated by a handle D To the discharge orifice D, rubber tubing D is attached for operating sprays, douches, etc., or for coarse atomization for cleaning and medicating purposes. A stuffing box C is. present to keep the valve E air tight.

The conduit C duly connects by way of conduit C with a tube E extended substantially as shown and supported in a projection as C of the chamber A. The conduit C which is sim ly an extension of the conduit C is preferably larger than that conduit, so as to be in a better condition to supply the tube E. The inlet to tube E is controlledby a valve E preferably of the conical form and advanced or retracted by the screw thread on the shank thereof engaging a thread on the extension of the chamber, the valve l being operated by a thumb wheel or handle shall overcome the resistance of the spring I E. A stuffing box C is present to make the valve E air tight. preferably larger than tube E, extends parallel to the latter. The tube F at certain intervals, has extensions F whose lower ends are each adapted to be connected at F 4 to a vessel F A preferred mode of such con nection is by a screw thread on the upper end of the vessel, engaging an interior screw on an extended sleeve F of the extension From this tube F, there extends through the extension F a passage F to the upper space within the vessel F The tube E is likewise connected with the vessels F by means of a conduit E extending to tube F and extending past the latter and then in a contracted form E to the upper end of a conduit E extending down into the vessel F The latter is preferably removable and to this end its upper portion is secured to the extension F by means of a screw connection. The conduits E and E and conduit F are lo cated in one piece, forged or cast, rather than composed of separate pieces soldered or otherwise united.

The conduit F and conduits E E are controlled by suitable valvular means. 1 provide one valve shank G to control these conduits. I incline this shank at an angle substantially as shown to the conduit F and to the conduit E The shank is provided with a handle G arranged for rotating the shank Grelatively to the conduits. For the purpose of enabling the operator to adjust the valves relatively to the connections to be made, I provide on the outer end of the shank G (see more particularly Fig. 13) three index pointers,-one marked On, one marked Off and one marked Air. A mark G on the extension F is the place where the index is to point when performing the oper ation marked upon it. Thus when the index marked On is pointing to mark G3 (see Fig. 6), then the passage F through the shank alines with the conduit F, and the passage E through the shank alines with the conduit E Then both of the conduits are open and the air from the tube E passes down through conduits E E E and nebulizes the fluid. of the bottle and then the nebulized vapor passes up through conduit F and through tube F to the tubing H, whereby it is delivered to the patient. When the index marked Off points to mark G (see Fig. 8), then both of the valves are shut off and no air can pass, and the medicines in the vessel beneath are closed air tight, not per mitting evaporation or volatile parts escaping. \Vhen the index marked Air points to mark G (see Fig. 7), thenboth of the valves F and are shut, but a passage E (preferably located in the peripheral portion of the shank) connects the conduit E and upper part of conduit E with the upper portion of the passage F. Thus passage of air Another tube F,

coming through tube E is circulated, and passes into tube F and thence into the discharge tubing without passing through the conduit E or through the vessel. It is to be noted that all of the metallic exitconduits are provided as shown, with the customary lining of hard rubber, to prevent corrosion. The valve shank is securely held in place, preferably by aspring E and nut E The object of thus causing the air to circulate, at will, through the tubes E and F and through the upper portion of conduit F 6 is to cleanse these, so that little or no deposit from the nebulized vapor will form on the inner surface of the passage or of the discharge tubing H, and that these passages and the discharge tubing may be*practically clean and in readiness for use with any other description of medicine which it is desired to employ.

The preferred and very advantageous construction of the lower portion of the conduit tube E and of parts supplied and combined therewith is as follows. The tube E extends down and its bottom is duly closed as shown. Around the lower portion of the tube is another tube J, there being a space between the sleeve and the tubes for the greater portion of the length of the sleeve. The upper end of tube J is in close contact with tube E and.

.supported by means of the screw threaded valve hereinafter described. The walls of the tube E" are outwardly reduced at J as shown, and thus enable an annular space J 2 to be present between the two tubes, without compelling the tube J to be of an outer diameter much larger, if any, than that of the tube E Through the side of the tube E is a narrow passage E inclined from within upward. O posite the axial direction of the passage 15 is a larger passage or duct J through the tube J. The air under pressure passing down tube E passes rapidly in a slender stream through the passage E and thence through the passage J This oper ation creates a vacuum in the space J and raises up the liquid into this space and projects it in atomized condition through passage J into the vessel F outside of the tube J, the coarse particles falling back into the bottom of the vessel and thefiner or nebulized liquid passes up with the current caused by the jet of air escaping from passage and through the passages F G and F and discharge tubing H to the patient. A screw valve E engaging a screw thread in the tube E has a seat in connection with the passage E By advancing or retracting the valve, the passage is closed or the size of it graduated as desired, according to the liquid state of the medicine delivered to the patient, and taking into account the pressure of the air in tube E The shank of this valve not only screws through tube E but through tube J and thus supports the latter. To increase the capacity of this device for nebulization, I

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employ as desired two or more such sets of passages E J, and valve E Thus in Fig. 9, I illustrate two such sets of passages and their valves.

Advantageous means for changing the support of the apparatus are shown.- Nhen the apparatus is supported on a standard S, as shown, this standard. may be hollow and constitute the inlet conduit A from the source of compressed. air as heretofore indicated.

The standard in such event may be located upon a cylinder containing the compressed air.

Where the standard is solid, the compressed air may be admitted by way of the entrance T and a conduit T shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. But there are many occasions where it is desirable to support the apparatus from a side support; in such event, a connection as T is placed in the lower opening of the chamber A and the inlet tube T is connected thereto. Then in the opening T is screwed the screw stopple T, having on its center a ring T The latter aids in effectually closing the opening and in preventing the screw from going in too far. The screw thread of the stopple on the outside of the ring receives a suitable bracket T, which can be duly secured to the side support. When desired, this stopple can be screwed directly into the side support instead of into the bracket. The bracket T may be used as the foot or basal support of the vertical standard S, when the latter is present (see Fig. 11), thereby avoiding a repetition of pieces.

In regard to the application of absorbent cotton as a useful factor in the process of my apparatus, I am aware that the material. known as sponge has been employed as a medium through which air has been passed, on its way to the medicating apparatus, and I do not claim the use of sponge, but I have found that sponge is aquite imperfect medium of absorption of moisture, etc., contained in the air; and that much of the air to be medicated will pass through it without being filtered. I employ absorbent cotton and gauze. The absorbent cotton is not only free fromimpurities, but is also a very perfect absorbent of all moisture, and dust, etc., in the air. The air consequently will be very dry and pure. Being very dry, it is in condition to absorb the largest amount of medicated vapor possible, in other words to be fully impregnated with the medicated vapors.

What I claim as new, and of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I. In an apparatus for inhalation. having the air tube E and nebulized vapor tube F, an air chamber and layers alternate of absorbent cotton and gauze, and a conduit connected to the chamber for supplying air thereto, and an air exit conduit at another part whereby the incoming air is compelled to pass through the absorbent material, and a perforated guard around said outlet for keeping the absorbent material from the exit tube, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an apparatus for inhalation, an air chamber containing absorbent material, an inlet conduit to said chamber, an outlet conduit provided with a valve seat, a valve, a diaphragm connected to said valve, and elastic. means for keeping the valve open when allowed to do so, an adjusting device for changing the elastic pressure upon said valve, and a pressure gage, the air space for operating the latter being also in contact with the diaphragm aforementioned, and in communication with the rest of the apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In an apparatus for inhalation, an air chamber containing absorbent material, an inlet conduit to said chamber, an outlet conduit provided with a valve seat, a valve, a perforated guard between saidvalve and the absorbent material, a diaphragm connected to said valve, and elastic means for keeping the valve open when. allowed to do so, an adjusting device for changing the elastic pressure upon saidvalve, and a pressure gage, the air space for operating the latter being also in contact with the diaphragm aforementloned, and in communication with the rest of the apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In an apparatus for inhalation, the combination of the air chamber rovided with the two inlet entrances, a sorbent chamber, exit orifice located as shown and a supporting standard as S carrying the conduit of air supply to the chamber A, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel provided with an air inlet whose conduit extends down into the liquid in the vessel, a tube surrounding the first named tube and an air space between the same, an air exit passage E inclined upward and outward, and in the outer tube a larger passage J axially opposite the first named exit passage, and an exit conduit from such vessel a screw stem being present and adapted to control the said outlet E of the first named tube substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel provided with an air inlet whose conduit extends down into the liquid to be nebulized, and provided with a second space J formed by an outer wall, an exit through the wall of the conduit and through this outer wall, both passages inclined upward and outward, and a valve inclined as shown and screwed through one wall of the conduit and seated at the beginning of the passage through this inserted, as shown,

wall, substantially as and for the specified.

, 7. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel provided with an air inlet whose conduit extends down into the liquid in the vessel, a tube surrounding the first named tube and an air space between the same, an air exit passage E inclined upward and outward, and

in the outer tube a larger passage J axially 1 opposite the first named passage, and a 1 valve E, for closing the first named exit passage, and an exit conduit from such vessel, the outer surface of the tube E being of a reduced diameter at its lower portion for enabling the greatest diameter of the tube J to also be of a reduced diameter, Isiulstantially as and for the purposes speci- 8. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel provided with an airinlet-whose conduit extends down into the liquid to be nebulized and provided with a second space J 2 formed by an outer tube, an exit through the wall of this conduit and through this outer wall both passages inclined upward and outward, and a valve controlling the exit passage through the inner tube, and inclined as shown and screwed through the walls of each tube, and supporting the outer tube, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel, an inlet air' tube E*, closed at bottom, and containing two or more inclined exit passages E and an outer tube J having two or more passages J respectively alining with said passage E and valves each having screw threaded shanks, respectively to control the exit passages E and screwed through the wall of tube E and the wall of tube J and engaged screw threads in said walls, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for containing the liquid and the exit conduit tube F and the inlet conduit tube E, and the conduit extending from tube E, and passing around tube F, and connected with conduit extended down into the atomizing chamber, and the exit conduit from the vessel commu nicating with the tube F, all the conduits excepting tubes Fiand E the tube extending into the atomizing chamber and the valves being formed within the single piece of metal in which the tubes E and F are respectively a valve being present in the conduit between inlet tube E and the vessel, and a valve being present in the conduit F between the vessel and the said tube F, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1 1. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for containing the liquid and the exit conduit F and the inlet conduit tube E, and the conduit extending from tube E and passing around tube F, and passing down and is connected with conduit extended down into the atomizpurposes chamber, the conduit tube E and the portlon of tubing around tube F being of large iarneter and thereafter reduced in size, for a certain distance, and exit conduit from the vessel, and a valve for controlling the inlet and exit passages, all of the conduits except E, F and the one extending into the atomizing chamber, and the valve, being in one piece, substantially as and for the purposes specified. 4 5

12. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for containing the liquid, and an inlet conduit tube E, and the exit conduit from the vessel, and the valve having a shank inclined and provided with the two transverse passages F 7 and E each angulated relatively to the axis of the shank and to each other, the shank provided at its outside surface with the channel E, and the tubular portion or extension F containing the passage, F, and the air passage E the passage F adapted to aline with the opening F of the key-shank G, and the air passage E adapted to aline with the passage E of the key-shank G, and the channel or passage E adapted to connect the passage F with the air passage E according as the key-shank G of the valve is rotated, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for containing the liquid and the exit conduit 5 tube F and the inlet tube E, and the conduit extending from tube E and passing around tube F, and passing down and connected with conduit extended down into the atomizing chamber, the conduit tube E and the por- Ioo tion of tubing around tube F being of large diameter and thereafter reduced in size, for a certain distance, and exit conduit from the vessel, and a valve for controlling the inlet and exit passages, all of the conduits except IO 5 E, F and the one extending into the vessel, and the valve, being in'one piece, the shank being provided at points other than the terminals of passages F and F with a length- Wise passage E, for enabling the inlet and 110 exit tubes to be connected when all connection between the vessel and these tubes is closed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

14. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for I I 5 containing the liquid and the exit conduit tube F and the inlet tube E, and the conduit extending from tube E and passing around tube F, and passing down and connected with conduit extended down into the atomiz- I 20 ing chamber, the conduit tube E and the portion of tubing around the tube F being of large diameter and thereafter reduced in size, for a certain distance, and exit conduit from the vessel, and a valve for controlling the in- 1' z 5 let and exit passages, all of the conduits except E, F and the one extending into the vessel, and the valve, being in one piece, the shank being provided at points other than the terminals of passages F and F with a 1 0 lengthwise passage E and exit tubes to be connected when all connection between the vessel and these tubes is closed, and index G and on the valve shank a handle and three-pointed index, Whose fingers are respectively marked to indicate the position of the valves relatively to the inlet and exit passages, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

15. In an inhalation apparatus, a vessel for containing the liquid and the exit conduit tube F and the inlet tube E, and the conduit extending from tube E and passing around tube F, and passing down and connected with conduit extended down into the atomizing chamber, the conduit tube E and the portion of tubing around tube F being of large diameter and thereafter reduced in size, for a certain distance, and exit conduit from the for enabling the inlet vessel, and a valve for controlling the inlet and exit passages, all of the conduits except E, F and the one extending into the vessel, and the valve, being in one piece, the shank being provided at points other than the terminals of passages F and F with a length wise passage E"; for enabling the inlet and exit tubes to be connected when all connection between the vessel and these tubes is closed, and index G and on the valve shank, a handle and three-pointed index whose fingers are respectively marked On, Off, Air, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

WILBER L. ROOT.

In presence oi SAMUEL A. WEST, K. SMITH. 

